Foot-and-mouth disease vaccine

ABSTRACT

Compositions for prevention of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) are provided, comprising an antigen component in the amount equivalent to 0.5-20 μg FMD virus and an adjuvant component comprising oil, an immunostimulatory oligonucleotide, and a polycationic carrier. Methods of using the composition, as well as the methods of reducing FMD persistence are also provided.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This Application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.16/374105 filed on Apr. 3, 2019, now allowed, which is a continuation ofU.S. application Ser. No. 15/543,630 filed on Jul. 14, 2017, issued asU.S. Pat. No. 10,478,487, which is the National Stage of InternationalApplication No. PCT/US2016/013587, filed on Jan. 15, 2016, whichapplication claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.62/104,314, filed Jan. 16, 2015, now expired.

THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

The claimed invention was made as a result of activities undertakenwithin the scope of a joint research agreement between Zoetis LLC andthe United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural ResearchService.

BACKGROUND

Foot and mouth disease (FMD) is an extremely contagious viral disease ofcloven-hoofed ungulates which include domestic animals (cattle, pigs,sheep, goats, and others) and a variety of wild animals. The mostprominent disease symptoms in FMDV-infected cattle include vesicularlesions of the epithelium of the mouth, tongue, teats and feet. Althoughsome countries, among them United States, Canada, Mexico, Australia andmost of Europe, are considered to be free of FMD, the disease isdistributed worldwide and has a great economic impact on the exportindustry. Indeed, several economically devastating outbreaks haveoccurred over the past decade on almost every continent.

Currently killed-antigen FMDV vaccines are necessarily produced inexpensive biological containment facilities, by growing large volumes(thousands of liters) of virulent FMDV that has been adapted to grow incells, which can be sometimes difficult. This process has resulted inescape of virulent virus from the manufacturing facility causing costlyoutbreaks in livestock (see Cottam et al. 2008. PLoS Pathogen 4:1-8).After growth, virus is then inactivated using chemicals and antigenconcentrates are prepared, followed by purification steps required toremove contaminant proteins. It is difficult to differentiate infectedfrom vaccinated animals (DIVA) through serological diagnostic tests.There is little to no cross protection across serotypes and subtypesrequiring the appropriate matching between vaccine and circulating fieldstrains to achieve protection. Despite these shortcomings of thevaccines, billions of doses are manufactured every year around theworld. Their use has been the basis for eradicating FMDV from Europe andfor controlling the disease in many parts of the world through massvaccination campaigns. Creation of genetically engineered virusescontaining a backbone and suitable restriction sites partially addressesthe shortcomings of inactivated vaccines as restriction sites provideloci for introduction of capsid proteins of different FMD strains.Nevertheless, the cost of antigen is the greatest contributor to thecost of FMD and most other vaccines.

The problem of FMD control is further exacerbated by the phenomenon ofvirus persistence. Briefly, historically, inactivated FMD vaccines havebeen unable to prevent persistence or carrier state (defined as virusshedding past 28 days following infection and/or exposure). Sheddinganimals, while not exhibiting any FMD symptoms, could remain a source ofFMD infection to other animals. As such, commonly accepted diseasecontrol practices require slaughter of all animals in a vaccinated herdeven if they do not have clinical signs of disease.

As such, methods and compositions which lead to vaccines with a lowerantigen load without compromising efficiency and/or reducing oreliminating FMD persistence are still desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect, the invention provides an immunogenic compositioncomprising an antigen component and an adjuvant component, wherein theadjuvant component comprises an emulsion containing an oily phase, saidoily phase comprising at least 50% v/v of said immunogenic composition,an immunostimulatory oligonucleotide, and at least one of a polycationicpolymer; a source of aluminum; and the antigen component comprises a FMDantigen composition in the amount equivalent to 0.5-8 μg of FMD virusper dose.

In certain embodiments, the immunostimulatory oligonucleotide is a CpGcontaining oligonucleotide. In certain embodiments, the polycationicpolymer is DEAE dextran.

In different embodiments, the antigen is an FMD virus composition, andis present in the amount of 0.5-4 μg per dose, or 0.5-2 μg per dose, or0.5-1 μg per dose, or in the amount of about 0.5 μg per dose.

The FMD virus may be inactivated or attenuated. In certain embodiments,the FMD virus is an inactivated FMD A24 Cruzeiro strain. In selectedembodiments, the inactivated strain is a genetically engineered strainwhich contains a deletion of the leader coding region (LL) andoptionally, contains negative antigenic markers.

In certain embodiments, the genetically engineered virus contains capsidproteins from a heterologous strain.

In another aspect, the invention provides a method of preventing FMD inan animal in need thereof, the method comprising administering theimmunogenic composition according to the embodiments of the previousaspect to said animal. In different embodiments, the animal is selectedfrom bovines, ovines, porcines, and caprines.

In another aspect, the invention provides a method of reducing frequencyof FMD persistence in a ruminant infected with FMD comprisingadministering to said ruminant prior to the infection an immunogeniccomposition comprising an antigen component and an adjuvant component,wherein the adjuvant component comprises an emulsion containing an oilyphase, said oily phase comprising at least 50% v/v of said immunogeniccomposition, an immunostimulatory oligonucleotide in the amount of75-200 μg per dose, and a polycationic polymer in the amount of 75-200mg per dose; and the antigen component comprises a FMD antigen in theamount equivalent to 6-10 μg of FMD virus per dose.

In yet another aspect, the invention provides a method of herdmanagement, comprising administering to animals in said herd animmunogenic composition comprising an antigen component and an adjuvantcomponent, wherein the adjuvant component comprises an emulsioncontaining an oily phase, said oily phase comprising at least 50% v/v ofsaid immunogenic composition, an immunostimulatory oligonucleotide inthe amount of 75-200 μg per dose, and a polycationic polymer in theamount of 75-200 mg per dose; and the antigen component comprises a FMDantigen in the amount equivalent to 6-10 μg of FMD virus per dose,wherein, upon suspected contact with FMD infection, the vaccinatedmembers of the herd are not slaughtered.

The invention also provides a method of herd management, comprisingadministering to animals in said herd an immunogenic compositioncomprising an antigen component and an adjuvant component, wherein theadjuvant component comprises an emulsion containing an oily phase, saidoily phase comprising at least 50% v/v of said immunogenic composition,an immunostimulatory oligonucleotide in the amount of 75-200 μg perdose, and a polycationic polymer in the amount of 75-200 mg per dose;and the antigen component comprises a FMD antigen in the amountequivalent to 6-10 μg of FMD virus per dose, wherein, upon suspectedcontact with FMD infection, the vaccinated members of the herd arequarantined for 0-62 days.

The invention also provides a method of herd management, comprisingadministering to animals in said herd an immunogenic compositioncomprising an antigen component and an adjuvant component, wherein theadjuvant component comprises an emulsion containing an oily phase, saidoily phase comprising at least 50% v/v of said immunogenic composition,an immunostimulatory oligonucleotide in the amount of 75-200 μg perdose, and a polycationic polymer in the amount of 75-200 mg per dose;and the antigen component comprises a FMD antigen in the amountequivalent to 6-10 μg of FMD virus per dose, wherein, upon suspectedcontact with FMD infection, the vaccinated members of the herd are movedbeyond the infected zone.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates the difference in quality between the PEGprecipitated and hollow fiber concentrated antigens.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Definitions

“About” or “approximately,” when used in connection with a measurablenumerical variable, refers to the indicated value of the variable and toall values of the variable that are within the experimental error of theindicated value (e.g., within the 95% confidence interval for the mean)or within 10 percent of the indicated value, whichever is greater,unless about is used in reference to time intervals in weeks where“about 3 weeks,” is 17 to 25 days, and about 2 to about 4 weeks is 10 to40 days.

“Adjuvant” means any substance that increases the humoral or cellularimmune response to an antigen. Adjuvants are generally used toaccomplish two objectives: the controlled release of antigens from theinjection site, and the stimulation of the immune system.

“Antibody” refers to an immunoglobulin molecule that can bind to aspecific antigen as the result of an immune response to that antigen.Immunoglobulins are serum proteins composed of “light” and “heavy”polypeptide chains having “constant” and “variable” regions and aredivided into classes (e.g., IgA, IgD, IgE, IgG, and IgM) based on thecomposition of the constant regions.

“Antigen” or “immunogen” refers to any substance that is recognized bythe animal's immune system and generates an immune response. The termincludes killed, inactivated, attenuated, or modified live bacteria,viruses, or parasites. The term “antigen” also includes polynucleotides,polypeptides, recombinant proteins, synthetic peptides, protein extract,cells (including tumor cells), tissues, polysaccharides, or lipids, orfragments thereof, individually or in any combination thereof. The termantigen also includes antibodies, such as anti-idiotype antibodies orfragments thereof, and to synthetic peptide mimotopes that can mimic anantigen or antigenic determinant (epitope).

“Buffer” means a chemical system that prevents change in theconcentration of another chemical substance, e.g., proton donor andacceptor systems serve as buffers preventing marked changes in hydrogenion concentration (pH). A further example of a buffer is a solutioncontaining a mixture of a weak acid and its salt (conjugate base) or aweak base and its salt (conjugate acid).

“Consisting essentially” as applied to the adjuvant formulations refersto formulation which does not contain unrecited additional adjuvantingor immunomodulating agents in the amounts at which said agent exertmeasurable adjuvanting or immunomodulating effects. “Dose” refers to avaccine or immunogenic composition given to a subject. A “first dose” or“priming vaccine” refers to the dose of such a composition given on Day0. A “second dose” or a “third dose” or an “annual dose” refers to anamount of such composition given subsequent to the first dose, which mayor may not be the same vaccine or immunogenic composition as the firstdose.

The term “emulsifier” is used broadly in the instant disclosure. Itincludes substances generally accepted as emulsifiers, e.g., differentproducts of TWEEN® or SPAN® product lines (fatty acid esters ofpolyethoxylated sorbitol and fatty-acid-substituted sorbitansurfactants, respectively), and different solubility enhancers such asPEG-40 Castor Oil or another PEGylated hydrogenated oil.

“Humoral immune response” refers to one that is mediated by antibodies.

“Immune response” in a subject refers to the development of a humoralimmune response, a cellular immune response, or a humoral and a cellularimmune response to an antigen. Immune responses can usually bedetermined using standard immunoassays and neutralization assays, whichare known in the art. “Immunologically effective amount” or “effectiveamount to produce an immune response” of an antigen is an amounteffective to induce an immunogenic response in the recipient. Theimmunogenic response may be sufficient for diagnostic purposes or othertesting, or may be adequate to prevent signs or symptoms of disease,including adverse health effects or complications thereof, caused byinfection with a disease agent. Either humoral immunity or cell-mediatedimmunity or both may be induced. The immunogenic response of an animalto an immunogenic composition may be evaluated, e.g., indirectly throughmeasurement of antibody titers, lymphocyte proliferation assays, ordirectly through monitoring signs and symptoms after challenge with wildtype strain, whereas the protective immunity conferred by a vaccine canbe evaluated by measuring, e.g., reduction in clinical signs such asmortality, morbidity, temperature number, overall physical condition,and overall health and performance of the subject. The immune responsemay comprise, without limitation, induction of cellular and/or humoralimmunity.

“Immunogenic” means evoking an immune or antigenic response. Thus animmunogenic composition would be any composition that induces an immuneresponse.

“Infected Premises” refers to premises where presumptive positive caseor confirmed positive case exists based on laboratory results,compatible clinical signs, FMD case definition, and internationalstandards.

“Infected Zone” refers to an area within 3 km beyond perimeters ofpresumptive or confirmed Infected Premises.

“Lipids” refers to any of a group of organic compounds, including thefats, oils, waxes, sterols, and triglycerides that are insoluble inwater but soluble in nonpolar organic solvents, are oily to the touch,and together with carbohydrates and proteins constitute the principalstructural material of living cells.

“Pharmaceutically acceptable” refers to substances, which are within thescope of sound medical judgment, suitable for use in contact with thetissues of subjects without undue toxicity, irritation, allergicresponse, and the like, commensurate with a reasonable benefit-to-riskratio, and effective for their intended use.

“TCID₅₀” refers to “tissue culture infective dose” and is defined asthat dilution of a virus required to infect 50% of a given batch ofinoculated cell cultures. Various methods may be used to calculateTCID₅₀, including the Spearman-Karber method which is utilizedthroughout this specification. For a description of the Spearman-Karbermethod, see B. W. Mahy & H. O. Kangro, Virology Methods Manual, p. 25-46(1996).

Persistently infected or carrier animals are animals shedding FMD viruspast 28 days post infection or onset of clinical disease.

Adjuvant Formulations and Methods of Making

The instant application discloses several adjuvant formulations suitablefor the instant invention. The common feature of these adjuvants is thepresence of oil and one or more emulsifiers, wherein the oily phasecomprises at least 50% of the vaccine composition encompassing theadjuvant formulations disclosed therein.

Multiple oils and combinations thereof are suitable for use of theinstant invention. These oils include, without limitations, animal oils,vegetable oils, as well as non-metabolizable oils. Non-limiting examplesof vegetable oils suitable in the instant invention are corn oil, peanutoil, soybean oil, coconut oil, and olive oil. A non-limiting example ofan animal oil is squalane. Suitable non-limiting examples ofnon-metabolizable oils include light mineral oil, straight chained orbranched saturated oils, and the like.

In a set of embodiments, the oil used in the adjuvant formulations ofthe instant invention is a light mineral oil. As used herein, the term“mineral oil” refers to a mixture of liquid hydrocarbons obtained frompetrolatum via a distillation technique. The term is synonymous with“liquefied paraffin”, “liquid petrolatum” and “white mineral oil.” Theterm is also intended to include “light mineral oil,” i.e., oil which issimilarly obtained by distillation of petrolatum, but which has aslightly lower specific gravity than white mineral oil. See, e.g.,Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences, 18th Edition (Easton, Pa.: MackPublishing Company, 1990, at pages 788 and 1323). Mineral oil can beobtained from various commercial sources, for example, J. T. Baker(Phillipsburg, Pa.) or USB Corporation

(Cleveland, Ohio). Preferred mineral oil is light mineral oilcommercially available under the name DRAKEOL®.

In certain embodiments particularly suitable for preventing oreliminating FMD persistence, the oily phase is present in an amount from50% to 95% by volume; preferably, in an amount of greater than 50% to85%; more preferably, in an amount from greater than 50% to 60%, andmore preferably in the amount of greater than 50-52% v/v of the vaccinecomposition. The oily phase includes oil and emulsifiers (e.g., SPAN®80, TWEEN® 80, etc.), if any such emulsifiers are present. The volume ofthe oily phase is calculated as a sum of volumes of the oil and theemulsifier(s). Thus, for example, if the volume of the oil is 40% andthe volume of the emulsifier(s) is 12% of a composition, then the oilyphase would be present at 52% v/v of the composition. Similarly, if theoil is present in the amount of about 45% and the emulsifier(s) ispresent in the amount of about 6% of a composition, then the oily phaseis present at about 51% v/v of the composition.

It also should be understood that since the adjuvants of the instantinvention form only a part of the vaccines of the instant invention, theoily phase is present in an amount from 50% to 95% by volume;preferably, in an amount of greater than 50% to 85%; more preferably, inan amount from 50% to 60%, and more preferably in the amount of 50-52%v/v of each of the adjuvants of the instant invention.

In a subset of embodiments, the volume percentage of the oil and theoil-soluble emulsifier together is at least 50%, e.g., 50% to 95% byvolume; preferably, in an amount of greater than 50% to 85%; morepreferably, in an amount from 50% to 60%, and more preferably in theamount of 50-52% v/v of the vaccine composition. Thus, for example andwithout limitations, the oil may be present in the amount of 45% and thelipid-soluble emulsifier would be present in the amount of greater than5% v/v. Thus, the volume percentage of the oil and the oil-solubleemulsifier together would be at least 50%.

In yet another subset, applicable to all vaccines of the invention,volume percentage of the oil is over 40%, e.g., 40% to 90% by volume;40% to 85%; 43% to 60%, 44-50% v/v of the vaccine composition.

Emulsifiers suitable for use in the present emulsions include naturalbiologically compatible emulsifiers and non-natural syntheticsurfactants. Biologically compatible emulsifiers include phospholipidcompounds or a mixture of phospholipids. Preferred phospholipids arephosphatidylcholines (lecithin), such as soy or egg lecithin. Lecithincan be obtained as a mixture of phosphatides and triglycerides bywater-washing crude vegetable oils, and separating and drying theresulting hydrated gums. A refined product can be obtained byfractionating the mixture for acetone insoluble phospholipids andglycolipids remaining after removal of the triglycerides and vegetableoil by acetone washing. Alternatively, lecithin can be obtained fromvarious commercial sources. Other suitable phospholipids includephosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylserine,phosphatidic acid, cardiolipin, and phosphatidylethanolamine. Thephospholipids may be isolated from natural sources or conventionallysynthesized.

In additional embodiments, the emulsifiers used herein do not includelecithin, or use lecithin in an amount which is not immunologicallyeffective.

Non-natural, synthetic emulsifiers suitable for use in the adjuvantformulations of the present invention include sorbitan-based non-ionicsurfactants, e.g. fatty-acid-substituted sorbitan surfactants(commercially available under the name SPAN® or) ARLACEL®), fatty acidesters of polyethoxylated sorbitol)(TWEEN®), polyethylene glycol estersof fatty acids from sources such as castor oil)(EMULFOR®);polyethoxylated fatty acid (e.g., stearic acid available under the nameSIMULSOL® M-53), polyethoxylated isooctylphenol/fornnaldehydepolymer)(TYLOXAPOL®), polyoxyethylene fatty alcohol ethers) (BRU®);polyoxyethylene nonphenyl ethers (TRITON® N), polyoxyethyleneisooctylphenyl ethers (TRITON® X). Preferred synthetic surfactants arethe surfactants available under the name SPAN® and TWEEN®, such asTWEEN®-80 (Polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan monooleate) and SPAN®-80(sorbitan monooleate).

Generally speaking, the emulsifier(s) may be present in the vaccinecomposition in an amount of 0.01% to 40% by volume, preferably, 0.1% to15%, more preferably 2% to 10%.

Additional ingredients present in the instant adjuvant formulationsinclude cationic carriers, immunostimulatory oligonucleotides,monophospholipid A and analogs thereof (MPL-A),Polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid (poly I:C), saponins, quaternaryammoniums, sterols, glycolipids, a source of aluminum (e.g., REHYDRAGEL®or VAC 20® wet gel) and combinations thereof.

Suitable cationic carriers include, without limitations, dextran,dextran DEAE (and derivatives thereof), PEGs, guar gums, chitosanderivatives, polycellulose derivatives like hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC)polyethylenimene, poly aminos like polylysine and the like.

Suitable immunostimulatory oligonucleotides include ODN (DNA-based), ORN(RNA-based) oligonucleotides, or chimeric ODN-ORN structures, which mayhave modified backbone including, without limitations, phosphorothioatemodifications, halogenations, alkylation (e.g., ethyl- ormethyl-modifications), and phosphodiester modifications. In someembodiments, poly inosinic-cytidylic acid or derivative thereof (polyI:C) may be used.

CpG oligonucleotides are a recently described class ofpharmacotherapeutic agents that are characterized by the presence of anunmethylated CG dinucleotide in specific base-sequence contexts (CpGmotif). (Hansel T T, Barnes P J (eds): New Drugs for Asthma, Allergy andCOPD. Prog Respir Res. Basel, Karger, 2001, vol 31, pp 229-232, which isincorporated herein by reference). These CpG motifs are not seen ineukaryotic DNA, in which CG dinucleotides are suppressed and, whenpresent, usually methylated, but are present in bacterial DNA to whichthey confer immunostimulatory properties.

In selected embodiments, the adjuvants of the instant invention utilizea so-called P-class immunostimulatory oligonucleotide, more preferably,modified P-class immunostimulatory oligonucleotides, even morepreferably, E-modified P-class oligonucleotides. P-classimmunostimulatory oligonucleotides are CpG oligonucleotidescharacterized by the presence of palindromes, generally 6-20 nucleotideslong. The P-Class oligonucleotides have the ability to spontaneouslyself-assemble into concatamers either in vitro and/or in vivo. Theseoligonucleotides are, in a strict sense, single-stranded, but thepresence of palindromes allows for formation of concatamers or possiblystem-and-loop structures. The overall length of P-classimmunostimulatory oligonucleotides is between 19 and 100 nucleotides,e.g., 19-30 nucleotides, 30-40 nucleotides, 40-50 nucleotides, 50-60nucleotides, 60-70 nucleotides, 70-80 nucleotides, 80-90 nucleotides,90-100 nucleotides.

In one aspect of the invention the immunostimulatory oligonucleotidecontains a 5′ TLR activation domain and at least two palindromicregions, one palindromic region being a 5′ palindromic region of atleast 6 nucleotides in length and connected to a 3′ palindromic regionof at least 8 nucleotides in length either directly or through a spacer.

The P-class immunostimulatory oligonucleotides may be modified accordingto techniques known in the art. For example, J-modification refers toiodo-modified nucleotides. E-modification refers to ethyl-modifiednucleotide(s). Thus, E-modified P-class immunostimulatoryoligonucleotides are P-class immunostimulatory oligonucleotides, whereinat least one nucleotide (preferably 5′ nucleotide) is ethylated.Additional modifications include attachment of 6-nitro-benzimidazol,O-methylation, modification with proynyl-dU, inosine modification,2-bromovinyl attachment (preferably to uridine).

The P-class immunostimulatory oligonucleotides may also contain amodified internucleotide linkage including, without limitations,phosphodiesther linkages and phosphorothioate linkages. Theoligonucleotides of the instant invention may be synthesized or obtainedfrom commercial sources.

P-Class oligonucleotides and modified P-class oligonucleotides arefurther disclosed in published PCT application no. WO2008/068638,published on Jun. 12, 2008. Suitable non-limiting examples of modifiedP-class immunostiumulatory oligonucleotides are provided below (“*”refers to a phosphorothioate bond and “-” refers to a phosphodiesterbond).

SEQ ID NO: 1 5′ T*C-G*T*C-G*A*C-G*A*T*C-G*G*C*G*C-G*C*G*C*C*G   3′SEQ ID NO: 2 5′ T*C-G*A*C*G*T*C*G*A*T*C*G*G*C*G*C*G*C*G*C*C*G   3′SEQ ID NO: 3 5′ T*C*G*A*C*G*T*C*G*A*T*C*G*G*C*G*C*G*C*G*C*C*G*   T 3′SEQ ID NO: 4 5′ JU*C-G*A*C*G*T*C*G*A*T*C*G*G*C*G*C*G*C*G*C*C*G   3′SEQ ID NO: 5 5′ JU*C-G*A*C*G*T*C*G*A*T*C*G*G*C*G*C*G*C*G*C*C*   G*T 3′SEQ ID NO: 6 5′ JU*C*G*A*C*G*T*C*G*A*T*C*G*G*C*G*C*G*C*G*C*C*   G*T 3′SEQ ID NO: 7 5′ EU*C-G*A*C*G*T*C*G*A*T*C*G*G*C*G*C*G*C*G*C*C*G   3′SEQ ID NO: 8 5′ JU*C-G*T*C*G*A*C*G*A*T*C*G*G*C*G*G*C*C*G*C*C*   G*T 3′SEQ ID NO: 9 5′ JU*C*G*T*C*G*A*C*G*A*T*C*G*G*C*G*G*C*C*G*C*C*   G*T 3′SEQ ID NO: 10  5′ T*C-G*T*C-G*A*C-G*A*T*C-G*G*C*G*C-G*C*G*C*C*G   3′SEQ ID NO: 11  5′-UUGUUGUUGUUGUUGUUGUU-3′  SEQ ID NO: 125′-UUAUUAUUAUUAUUAUUAUU-3′  SEQ ID NO: 13  5′-AAACGCUCAGCCAAAGCAG-3′ SEQ ID NO: 14 dTdCdGdTdCdGdTdTdTdTrGrUrUrGrUrGrUdTdTdTdT-3′ 

The amount of P-class immunostimulatory oligonucleotide for use in theadjuvant compositions depends upon the nature of the P-classimmunostimulatory oligonucleotide used and the intended species.

In addition to the oil and the emulsifier(s), the adjuvant formulationsalso comprise (or consist essentially of, or consist of) a combinationof an immunostimulatory oligonucleotide and a polycationic carrier.These adjuvants are referred to as “TXO”.

In a set of embodiments, the TXO adjuvants may also include a source ofaluminum, such as Al(OH)₃ gel. The TXO adjuvants with aluminum arereferred to as “TXO-A”.

In a set of embodiments, adjuvants TXO and TXO-A may optionally containa sterol, such as, for example, cholesterol, lanosterol, sigmasterol,etc. TXO and TXO-A adjuvants containing the sterol are referred to asTCXO and TCXO-A, respectively. The optionally present sterol may bepresent in the amount of up to about 1000 μg (e.g., 100-1000 μg,200-1000 μg, 250-700 μg, or about 400-500 μg) per dose.

In a set of embodiments, in TXO adjuvants, the immunostimulatoryoligonucleotide, preferably an ODN, preferably containing a palindromicsequence, and optionally with a modified backbone, may be present in theamount of 5-400 μg per dose, and the polycationic carrier may be presentin the amount of 5-400 mg per dose.

For example, in certain embodiments, one dose of TXO would comprisebetween about 5 and 400 μg per dose (e.g., 6.25-200 μg or 6.25-100 μg or6.25-50 μg or 6.25-25 μg or 6.25-10 μg or 10-200 μg or 25-200 μg or25-100 μg or 25-50 μg or 25-100 μg or 50-100 μg per dose) of theimmunostimulatory oligonucleotide, and the polycationic carrier may bepresent in the amount of between about 5 and about 500 mg per dose(e.g., 6.25-200 mg or 6.25-100 mg or 6.25-50 mg or 6.25-25 mg or 6.25-10mg or 10-200 mg or 25-200 mg or 25-100 mg or 25-50 mg or 25-100 mg or50-100 mg per dose).

In certain embodiments, TXO adjuvants are prepared as follows:

-   -   a) Sorbitan monooleate is dissolved in light mineral oil. The        resulting oil solution is sterile filtered;    -   b) The immunostimulatory oligonucleotide, Dextran DEAE and        Polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan monooleate are dissolved in        aqueous phase, thus forming the aqueous solution; and    -   c) The aqueous solution is added to the oil solution under        continuous homogenization thus forming the adjuvant formulation        TXO.

In a set of embodiments, in TXO-A adjuvants, the immunostimulatoryoligonucleotide is present as in the TXO adjuvant, the source ofaluminum is present in the amount of up to 40% v/v (e.g., 35%, 30%, 25%,20%, 15%, 10%, 5%, 1%). In a set of embodiments, the source of aluminumis present at 2%-20% v/v of the vaccine composition, more preferablybetween about 5% and about 17% v/v.

In certain embodiments, TXO-A adjuvants are prepared similarly to TXOadjuvants, and the source of aluminum is added to the aqueous solution.

In preparation of TCXO and TCXO-A adjuvants, cholesterol is dissolved inthe oil solution, and the other steps of making TCXO and TCXO-A aresimilar to the steps used in preparation of TXO and TXO-A, respectively.

Antigens

The inventors have surprisingly discovered that the adjuvants of theinstant invention are capable of causing sufficient protection fromFoot-And-Mouth disease even when the dose of the antigen is decreasedfrom 10 μg of the FMD virus to 0.5 μg. Thus, in different embodiments ofthe invention, the amount of the FMD virus may be 0.5 μg, about 1 μg,about 2 μg, about 3 μg, about 4 μg, about 5 μg, about 6 μg, about 7 μg,about 8 μg, about 9 μg or about 10 μg. The amount of the antigen may bebetween 0.5 and 1 μg, between 1 and 2 μg, between 2 and 3 μg, between 3and 4 μg, between 4 and 5 μg, between 5 and 6 μg, between 6 and 8 μg,between 8 and 10 μg of FMD virus (140 S particles).

Currently, seven serotypes of FMD have been isolated. Of the sevenserotypes of this virus, A, C, O, Asia 1, and SAT3 appear to be distinctlineages; SAT 1 and SAT 2 are unresolved clades. Within each serovar,multiple strains exist. For example, A24 Cruzeiro belongs to serotype A,and O1 Campos belongs to serotype O.

FMD virus of any serotype may be used as an antigen in this invention,provided that such virus is not pathogenic. Pathogenicity may be reducedby inactivation of the virus, e.g., treatment with formaldehyde or BEI.

In certain embodiments, the virus may be attenuated by culture passageor via recombinant means. It has previously been demonstrated, forexample, that deletion of the leader protein L^(pro) coding regionresults in FMD virus which is attenuated in cattle and pigs. See, e.g.,U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,824,316, 8,765,141, Virology 1997 227(1): 96-102, J.Virol 2012 86:11675-11685. Point mutations in at positions 55 and 58within the SAP domain of L protein also resulted in a viable virus thatdisplayed a mild attenuated phenotype in cell culture and was protectivein swine FMD model. See U.S. Pat. No. 8,846,057.

In certain embodiments, the virus also contains negative antigenicmarkers which allow for DIVA (differentiating infected from vaccinatedanimals) assays. In certain embodiments, the negative antigenic markersare introduced to 3D and/or 3B proteins. See, e.g., SEQ ID NOs 19, 20,21, 22.

Like other viruses, the FMD virus continually evolves and mutates, thusone of the difficulties in vaccinating against it is the huge variationbetween, and even within, serotypes. There is no cross-protectionbetween serotypes (a vaccine for one serotype will not necessarilyprotect against any others) and in addition, two strains within a givenserotype may have nucleotide sequences that differ by as much as 30% fora given gene. This means FMD vaccines must be highly specific to thestrain involved.

Thus, in certain embodiments, endonuclease restriction sites areintroduced into the genome of the virus, thereby allowing introductionof proteins (e.g., proteins forming the outer capsids) from heterologousFMD strains.

In certain embodiments, the antigen component comprises FMD strain A24Cruzeiro, which may optionally be modified by deletion of leaderprotein, negative marker mutations in 3B and/or 3D proteins, and byintroduction of restriction endonuclease sites for an easierintroduction of sequences for antigens (e.g., capsid proteins) fromheterologous strains. Suitable non-limiting examples of the antigens aredescribed in U.S. Pat. No. 8,765,141. DNA sequences corresponding to RNAgenome of a genetically modified FMDV are also provided in SEQ ID NO: 15(A₂₄LL3D_(YR)) and SEQ ID NO: 17 (A₂₄LL3B_(PVKV)3D_(YR)). Thus, a DNAsequence complementary to the DNA sequence set forth e.g., in SEQ ID NO:15 is a template for, i.e. is complementary to or “encodes”, the RNAgenome of the FMDV virus (i.e., RNA that encodes the FMDV). In certainembodiments, the virus comprises capsid protein(s) of heterologous FMDstrains (i.e., strains of FMD other than A24 Cruzeiro, including withoutlimitations, strains of lineages C, O, Asia 1, SAT3, SAT 1 and SAT 2,Turkey 06 and other strains of lineage A). Non limiting examples of suchheterologous antigens are illustrated in SEQ ID NO: 23(Asia1-A₂₄LL3B_(PVKV)3D_(YR)) and SEQ ID NO: 24(A/Turkey/06-A₂₄LL3_(PVKV)3D_(YR)). Additionally, O1campos-A₂₄LL3B_(PVKV)3D_(YR) (complete genome, also referred asO1campos), C3 Indaial-A₂₄LL3B_(PVKV)3D_(YR) (complete genome), andcapsid Argentina 2001 iso93 (capsid and 2A partial sequence) areprovided in SEQ ID NOs 25, 26, and 27, respectively.

Variants of such antigens are also envisioned. The variants are at least80% identical (e.g., 85% identical, 90% identical, 95% identical, 96%identical, 97% identical, 98% identical or 99% identical) to a referencesequence using one of the alignment programs described using standardparameters. Multiple alignment tools are available to determine sequenceidentity, including, without limitations, BLAST, CLUSTAL or PHILIP.

One of skill in the art will recognize that these values can beappropriately adjusted to determine corresponding identity of proteinsencoded by two nucleotide sequences by taking into account codondegeneracy, amino acid similarity, reading frame positioning, and thelike.

In certain embodiments, the variants encompass more than the specificexemplary nucleotide or amino acid sequences and include functionalequivalents thereof. Alterations in a nucleic acid fragment that resultin the production of a chemically equivalent amino acid at a given site,but do not affect the functional properties of the encoded polypeptide,are well known in the art. Thus, a codon for the amino acid alanine, ahydrophobic amino acid, may be substituted by a codon encoding anotherless hydrophobic residue, such as glycine, or a more hydrophobicresidue, such as valine, leucine, or isoleucine. Similarly, changeswhich result in substitution of one negatively charged residue foranother, such as aspartic acid for glutamic acid, or one positivelycharged residue for another, such as lysine for arginine, can also beexpected to produce a functionally equivalent product. Nucleotidechanges which result in alteration of the N-terminal and C-terminalportions of the polypeptide molecule would also not be expected to alterthe activity of the polypeptide. Each of the proposed modifications iswell within the routine skill in the art, as is determination ofretention of biological activity of the encoded products.

The polypeptides of the invention may also be altered in various waysincluding amino acid substitutions, deletions, truncations, andinsertions. Novel proteins having properties of interest may be createdby combining elements and fragments of proteins of the presentinvention, as well as with other proteins. Methods for suchmanipulations are generally known in the art. Thus, the genes andnucleotide sequences of the invention include both the naturallyoccurring sequences as well as mutant forms. Likewise, the proteins ofthe invention encompass naturally occurring proteins as well asvariations and modified forms thereof. Such variants will continue topossess the desired modified activities of the parent FMD virus. Themutations that will be made in the DNA encoding the variant must notplace the sequence out of reading frame and preferably will not createcomplementary regions that could produce secondary mRNA structure.

Methods of growing and purifying the antigens suitable for the instantinvention are well known in the art and include, without limitations,hollow fiber filtration and PEG precipitation. These methods yieldsomewhat different antigenic compositions. For example, in PEGprecipitation, the antigenic composition is depleted of non-structuralproteins. In other methods, such as, for example, hollow fiberfiltration, the antigenic composition contains both structural andnon-structural FMD proteins. Accordingly, in some embodiments, the FMDantigen comprises structural proteins. In other embodiments, such as,for example, where the FMD antigen is prepared by hollow fiberfiltration, the FMD antigen comprises both structural and non-structuralproteins, particularly 3D protein.

Using current vaccine platforms, devoid of intrinsic antigenic markersto differentiate vaccinated from infected animals, removal ofnon-structural proteins is desirable as this remains desirable due tothe fact that presence of antibodies to non-structural proteinidentifies infected animals. However in the context of the FMDLL3B3Dplatform, the presence of non-structural protein in the antigenpreparation does not preclude differentiation between vaccinated andinfected animals. It is in this context that the present formulation ofantigen including non-structural proteins and adjuvant provide bothprotection against clinical disease at lower doses than purified antigenformulations and also prevent more effectively the establishment ofpersistent infections in ruminants.

Compositions

The compositions of the present invention can be formulated followingaccepted convention to include acceptable carriers for animals,including humans, such as standard buffers, stabilizers, diluents,preservatives, and/or solubilizers, and can also be formulated tofacilitate sustained release. Diluents include water, saline, dextrose,ethanol, glycerol, and the like. Additives for isotonicity includesodium chloride, dextrose, mannitol, sorbitol, and lactose, amongothers. Stabilizers include albumin, among others. Other suitablevehicles and additives, including those that are particularly useful informulating modified live vaccines, are known or will be apparent tothose skilled in the art. See, e.g., Remington's Pharmaceutical Science,18th ed., 1990, Mack Publishing, which is incorporated herein byreference.

The compositions of the present invention can further comprise one ormore additional immunomodulatory components such as, e.g., an additionaladjuvant or cytokine, among others. Non-limiting examples of suchadditional adjuvants that can be used in the vaccine of the presentinvention include the RIBI adjuvant system (Ribi Inc., Hamilton, Mont.),Freund's complete and incomplete adjuvants, Block copolymer (CytRx,Atlanta Ga.), QS-21 (Cambridge Biotech Inc., Cambridge Mass.), SAF-M(Chiron, Emeryville Calif.), AMPHIGEN® adjuvant, saponin, Quil A orother saponin fraction, monophosphoryl lipid A, and Avridine lipid-amineadjuvant. Other immunomodulatory agents that can be included in thevaccine include, e.g., one or more interleukins, interferons, or otherknown cytokines.

The routes of administration for the adjuvant compositions includeparenteral, oral, oronasal, intranasal, intratracheal, topical,subcutaneous, intramuscular, transcutaneous, intradermal,intraperitoneal, intraocular, intravenous, and lingual administration.Any suitable device may be used to administer the compositions,including syringes, droppers, needleless injection devices, patches, andthe like. The route and device selected for use will depend on thecomposition of the adjuvant, the antigen, and the subject, and are wellknown to the skilled artisan.

In view of high infectivity of FMD, measures which need to be taken tocontain and/or eliminate FMD outbreak are controlled by regulatoryauthorities, such as, for example, national Ministries of Agricultureand sanctioned by international organizations such as the OIE(International Office of Epizootics). The measures which need to beundertaken in connection with the outbreak may include, withoutlimitations, standstill of animal movements, effective controls on themovement of animal products, including milk, meat, hide, etc,stamping-out policy (slaughter of the animals in affected herd, and,where appropriate, those in other herds which have been exposed toinfection by direct animal to animal contact, or by indirect contactwith the pathogen). Often the animals in the neighboring herds arevaccinated followed by slaughter.

The inventors have surprisingly discovered that certain immunogeniccompositions described herein prevent persistence, which is defined asthe presence or shedding of FMD for longer than 28 days after theinfection. In certain embodiments, such immunogenic compositionscomprise an antigen component and an adjuvant component, wherein theadjuvant component comprises (or consists essentially of or consists of)an emulsion containing an oily phase, said oily phase comprising atleast 50% v/v of said immunogenic composition, an immunostimulatoryoligonucleotide in the amount of 75-200 μg per dose, and a polycationicpolymer in the amount of 75-200 mg per dose; and the antigen componentcomprises a FMD antigen in the amount equivalent to at least 6 μg of FMDvirus per dose.

In certain embodiments, antigen may be present in the amount equivalentto 6-20 μg of FMD virus per dose, e.g., 8-20, 10-20, 12-20, 14-20,16-20, 18-20, 6-10, 6-12, 6-18, 8-12, or 8-10 μg of FMD virus per dose.The amount of the immunostimulatory oligonucleotide may be, for example,75-100, 75-125, 75-150, 75-150, 100-200, 100-150, 125-200, 125-175 or125-150 μg per dose. The polycationic polymer may be present in theamount of, for example, 75-100, 75-125, 75-150, 75-150, 100-200,100-150, 125-200, 125-175 or 125-150 mg per dose.

The invention, therefore, also provides a method of reducing frequencyof FMD persistence in a ruminant infected with FMD comprisingadministering to said ruminant prior to the infection the immunogeniccompositions which comprise an antigen component and an adjuvantcomponent, wherein the adjuvant component comprises (or consistsessentially of or consists of) an emulsion containing an oily phase,said oily phase comprising at least 50% v/v of said immunogeniccomposition, an immunostimulatory oligonucleotide in the amount of75-200 μg per dose, and a polycationic polymer in the amount of 75-200mg per dose; and the antigen component comprises a FMD (Foot-and-MouthDisease) antigen in the amount equivalent to at least 6 μg of FMD virusper dose.

In different embodiments, the amount of the antigen may be equivalent to6-20 μg of FMD virus per dose, e.g., 8-20, 10-20, 12-20, 14-20, 16-20,18-20, 6-10, 6-12, 6-18, 8-12, or 8-10 μg of FMD virus per dose. Theamount of the immunostimulatory oligonucleotide may be, for example,75-100, 75-125, 75-150, 75-150, 100-200, 100-150, 125-200, 125-175 or125-150 μg per dose. The polycationic polymer may be present in theamount of, for example, 75-100, 75-125, 75-150, 75-150, 100-200,100-150, 125-200, 125-175 or 125-150 mg per dose.

Administration of these immunogenic compositions to ruminants (e.g.,cattle, sheep, camels, etc.) allows for the change in herd managementpractices. In certain embodiments, the vaccinated members of the herdare not slaughtered after a suspected contact with FMD virus.

In alternative (or additional) embodiments, the vaccinated animals arekept in quarantine for a shorter time. Thus, in certain embodiments, theanimals suspected of coming in contact with FMD may be kept inquarantine for less than 30 days, e.g., 28 days, or 29 days.

Further, designation of an area as a containment zone means severelimitations of prohibition on movement of animals or animal productsfrom the containment zone, generally, 30 days or more. Thus, in certainembodiments, the animals suspected of coming in contact with FMD may bemoved from the containment zone within less than 30 days, e.g., 28 daysor 29 days from the suspected contact with FMD.

In the embodiments where the antigen component entails a geneticallyengineered FMD antigen, e.g., as described above, it is possible todifferentiate vaccinated from infected animals. Therefore, in additionalembodiments, the herd management methods (or method of reducingfrequency of FMD persistence in a ruminant infected with FMD).

In other words, the immunogenic compositions, in certain embodimentscomprising an antigen component and an adjuvant component, wherein theadjuvant component comprises (or consists essentially of or consists of)an emulsion containing an oily phase, said oily phase comprising atleast 50% v/v of said immunogenic composition, an immunostimulatoryoligonucleotide in the amount of 75-200 μg per dose, and a polycationicpolymer in the amount of 75-200 mg per dose; and the antigen componentcomprises a FMD antigen in the amount equivalent to at least 6 μg of FMDvirus per dose may be used for herd management wherein, upon suspectedcontact with FMD infection, the vaccinated members of said herd are notslaughtered; and/or quarantined for 0-30 days after the suspectedcontact and/or moved beyond the infected premises within 30 days of thesuspected contact.

In different embodiments, the amount of the antigen may be equivalent to6-20 μg of FMD virus per dose, e.g., 8-20, 10-20, 12-20, 14-20, 16-20,18-20, 6-10, 6-12, 6-18, 8-12, or 8-10 μg of FMD virus per dose. Theamount of the immunostimulatory oligonucleotide may be, for example,75-100, 75-125, 75-150, 75-150, 100-200, 100-150, 125-200, 125-175 or125-150 μg per dose. The polycationic polymer may be present in theamount of, for example, 75-100, 75-125, 75-150, 75-150, 100-200,100-150, 125-200, 125-175 or 125-150 mg per dose.

The invention will be further described in the following non-limitingexamples.

EXAMPLES Example 1 Preparation of Antigens

Two methods were used to prepare the antigens: Hollow Fiber Filtrationand PEG precipitation.

PEG (poly-ethylene glycol) precipitation methods have been known in theart. Briefly, BHK-21 cells were infected with the FMD virus. Then (24-36h later) the cells were lysed by freeze-thawing, and cell lysate wasclarified of cell debris by low speed centrifugation (500×g). PEG wasadded (8% w/v) to the supernatant containing both structural andnon-structural proteins. The mixture was incubated for 12-18 hr at 4° C.During this incubation, FMDV particles associate with the PEG. Antigenwas recovered by centrifugation at 16,000×g and collection of theprecipate pellet containing PEG and virus. The supernatant, containingcellular and viral non-structural proteins was discarded. The pellet, towhich the virus particles are bound, was then washed with small volumesof buffer to elute the FMDV particles from the PEG.

An additional method described herein is based on hollow-fiberconcentration, of FMDV culture supernatants. The steps of this methodconsist of successive filtration arrangement to remove first the celldebris and large material from the cultures (BHK-21 cells infected withthe FMD virus and lysed by freeze-thawing). The culture material waspumped successively through a 10 μm capsule filter, a 4.5 μm capsulefilter, then finally through a 0.8 μm/0.2 μm filter. This filtrate wasthen concentrated using a hollow fiber ultrafiltration cartridge thatallows particles smaller than 0.01 μm to flow through the membrane. FMDVparticles and many non-structural proteins remain in the column circuitwhile liquid and smaller proteins go through the membrane into thewaste. The column circuit was run until the concentrate reaches thedesired volume, normally a ten-fold concentration.

FIG. 1 is a Western blot illustrating the difference in quality betweenthe PEG precipitated and hollow fiber concentrated antigens. Hollowfiber concentrated antigen contains large amounts of structural and nonstructural proteins as illustrated in this figure by western blotstaining using an antibody specific for protein 3D, the largest FMDVnon-structural proteins and antibody specific to capsid protein(structural protein). In contrast, PEG-precipitated antigens (lane 9)contained structural protein but did not contain detectable levels of 3Dprotein.

Example 2 Effects of FMD Vaccines Adjuvanted with TXO

Animals and Sample Collection

Six- to eight-month-old Holstein steers weighing 180-230 kg were used inthis study. The animals were free of FMDV-reactive antibodies asdetermined by 3D ELISA test prior to vaccination as determined laterfrom serum samples taken on Day 0. All 28 animals were commingled in oneroom in a BSL-3-Ag animal testing facility. The animals were fedcomplete ration pellets or alfalfa cubes, with water and salt blocksavailable ad libitum. Animals were acclimatized five days to thefacilities prior to Day 0. Animals were previously treated withBovi-Shield GOLD® 5, Micotil® 300, Liquamycin® LA-200 and Dectomax®.Groups of animals (n=4 each) with consecutive ear tag numbers wereassigned to a treatment group.

No adverse events were documented following vaccination.

Serum separator blood tubes to obtain serum samples were collected atDays 0 (before vaccination), 4, 7, 14, 21 (before challenge), 24, 28, 31and 42 from all animals. The serum samples were kept frozen until testedfor the presence of neutralizing antibodies against FMDV in a serumneutralization assay (reported as the reciprocal of the last serumdilution to neutralize 100 TCID₅₀ of homologous FMDV in 50% of thewells) or to study the anti-3Dpol response (by means of a competitiveEnzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay).

As recommended by the OIE (“Manual of Diagnostic Tests and Vaccines forTerrestrial Animals”), challenge of vaccinated cattle for vaccineefficacy was by needle inoculation by the intradermal lingual (IDL)route. At 21 days post-vaccination, all vaccinated and naïve animalswere inoculated IDL with 10,000 BTID₅₀ (50% bovine tongue infectiousdoses) of homologous FMDV A24 Cruzeiro divided as 4 inoculations of 0.1ml/each with 2,500 BTID₅₀/0.1 ml. All animals were followed for 10 dayspost-challenge to assess development of clinical disease as expressed byfever, nasal secretion, salivation, loss of appetite and/or lameness.Clinical evaluation for the presence of hoof vesicles was performed withsedation (xylazine given IM at 0.22 mg/kg so as to maintain sternalrecumbency for the duration of the procedure) at day 21 (beforeinoculation) and days 24, 28 and 31. The sedative was reversed withtolazoline, IV, at a dose of 2 mg/kg.

Vaccines

Antigens were prepared as described in Example 1. Antigen stocksolutions contained 5.51 μg/ml antigen prepared by hollow fiberfiltertration (Prep A) or 10.26 μg/ml antigen prepared by PEGprecipitation (Prep B).

The details of the immunogenic compositions administered to the animalsare provided in Table 1. Each group contained four animals.

TABLE 1 Study Design Volume injected, Group Antigen Amount/5 mlAdjuvant/5 ml ml, IM T01 None N/A PBS (Neg control) 5 T02 FMDV (Prep 8μg Light Mineral oil- 5 B)-PEG ppt. SPAN ® 80 T03 FMDV (Prep 2 μgTWEEN ® 80 1.25 B) PEG ppt. DEAE Dextran (100 mg); T04 FMDV (Prep 0.5 μgSEQ ID NO: 8; 0.3125 B)-PEG ppt. 75% pure: 100 μg T05 FMDV (Prep 8 μg 5A)-Hollow fiber filt.- T06 FMDV (Prep 2 μg 1.25 A)-Hollow fiber filt.T07 FMDV (Prep 0.5 μg 0.3125 A)-Hollow fiber filt.

The immunogenic compositions of groups T02 through T06 were homogenizedon the day of vaccination and administered to the animals on Day 0.

Persistence was measured as the presence or absence of virus (eitherFMDV viral RNA and/or infectious FMDV) determined using both viralisolation and quantitative rRT-PCR. The primers used for thequantitative rRT-PCR were as follows:

Forward (SEQ ID NO: 28): GACAAAGGTTTTGTTCTTGGTCAReverse (SEQ ID NO: 29): TGCGAGTCCTGCCACGGATaqman probe: (FAM reporter, TAMRA quencher,  SEQ ID NO: 30)TCCTTTGCACGCCGTGGGAC

Serum neutralizing titers to FMDV are summarized in Table 2.

TABLE 2 Serum Neutralizing Titers Serum Neutralizing Titer Treatment Day0 Day 21 Day 42 T01 0.45 ^(a) 0.45 ^(a) 2.62 ^(ab) T02 0.45 ^(a) 1.64^(c) 2.84 ^(b) T03 0.45 ^(a) 0.90 ^(b) 2.39 ^(ab) T04 0.45 ^(a) 0.76^(b) 2.74 ^(ab) T05 0.45 ^(a) 1.55 ^(c) 2.28 ^(a) T06 0.45 ^(a) 0.81^(b) 2.36 ^(ab) T07 0.45 ^(a) 0.54 ^(a) 2.68 ^(ab) ^(a,b,c)Treatmentgroups with same letter within each day are not significantly differentat alpha = 0.05

Signs of FMDV were scored as presence (1) or absence (0) of hoofvesicles, i.e., a presence of a vesicle on a single hoof produced thescore of 1, the presence of vesicles on only 2 hooves produced score of2 and vesicles on all 4 hooves produced a score of 4. Once an animalreceived a score of 4, it was considered to have a score of 4 for theduration of the study.

The scores from individual animals for each hoof and for each day ofexamination are shown in Table 3. In Table 4, a summary of each animal'sscores according to whether any hoof was positive is presented.

TABLE 3 FMDV Vesicle Scoring individual Animal Listing Day of Study 2124 Location Location LEFT LEFT RIGHT RIGHT LEFT LEFT RIGHT RIGHTTreatment Animal FORE REAR FORE REAR FORE REAR FORE REAR T01 R14- 0 0 00 0 1 0 1 84 R14- 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 85 R14- 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 86 R14- 0 0 00 1 1 1 1 87 T02 R14- 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 72 R14- 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 73 R14- 00 0 0 0 0 0 0 74 R14- 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 75 T03 R14- 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 76R14- 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 77 R14- 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 78 R14- 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 79T04 R14- 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 80 R14- 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 81 R14- 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 082 R14- 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 83 T05 R14- 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 60 R14- 0 0 0 0 0 00 0 61 R14- 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 62 R14- 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 63 T06 R14- 0 0 0 00 0 0 0 64 R14- 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 65 R14- 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 66 R14- 0 0 0 00 0 0 0 67 T07 R14- 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 68 R14- 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 69 R14- 0 00 0 0 0 0 0 70 R14- 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 71 Day of Study 28 31 LocationLocation LEFT LEFT RIGHT RIGHT LEFT LEFT RIGHT RIGHT Treatment AnimalFORE REAR FORE REAR FORE REAR FORE REAR T01 R14- 1 1 1 1  1*  1*  1*  1*84 R14-  1*  1*  1*  1*  1*  1*  1*  1* 85 R14- 1 1 1 1  1*  1*  1*  1*86 R14-  1*  1*  1*  1*  1*  1*  1*  1* 87 T02 R14- 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 72R14- 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 73 R14- 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 74 R14- 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 75T03 R14- 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 76 R14- 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 77 R14- 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 078 R14- 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 79 T04 R14- 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 80 R14- 0 0 0 0 0 00 0 81 R14- 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 82 R14- 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 83 T05 R14- 0 0 0 00 0 0 0 60 R14- 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 61 R14- 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 62 R14- 0 0 0 00 0 0 0 63 T06 R14- 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 64 R14- 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 65 R14- 0 00 0 0 0 0 0 66 R14- 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 67 T07 R14- 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 68 R14-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 69 R14- 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 70 R14- 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 71*Automatically scored as a ‘1’ since all hooves for this animalpreviously had vesicles on all four hooves.

TABLE 4 FMDV Vesicle Scoring-Any Hoof Location Positive Day of StudyTreatment Animal 21 24 28 31 T01 R14-84 No Yes Yes Yes* R14-85 No YesYes* Yes* R14-86 No Yes Yes Yes* R14-87 No Yes Yes* Yes* T02 R14-72 NoNo No No R14-73 No No No No R14-74 No No No No R14-75 No No No No T03R14-76 No No No No R14-77 No Yes Yes Yes R14-78 No No No No R14-79 No NoNo No T04 R14-80 No No No No R14-81 No No No No R14-82 No No No NoR14-83 No No No No T05 R14-60 No No No No R14-61 No No No No R14-62 NoNo No No R14-63 No No No No T06 R14-64 No No No No R14-65 No No No NoR14-66 No No No No R14-67 No No No No T07 R14-68 No No No No R14-69 NoNo No No R14-70 No No No No R14-71 No No No No *Automatically scored asYes since all hooves for this animal previously had vesicles on all fourhooves

All animals in T01 (negative control) exhibited hoof vesicles startingon Day 24. On Days 28 and 31, all hooves in all T01 animals were foundto have vesicles. In contrast, full protection (i.e., no hoof vesicles)was observed for every group except T03 (2 μg dose of FMDV precipitatedwith PEG), where one animal (R14-77) received the score of 1 at Days 24,28, and 31.The effects of the tested immunogenic compositions onpersistent infection are illustrated in Tables 5 and 6. Peristence wasdefined as presence of infectious virus or viral RNA inoesophageal-pharyngeal fluid (obtained using a “Probang” cup) after 28days post-challenge (day 49 after vaccination, as shown in tables 5 and6). In Table 5, quantitative rRT-PCR results for individual animals andtreatment group back-transformed least square means of FMDV RNA copynumbers per mL from probang samples are shown. In Table 6, results ofprobang sample virus isolation testing are reported as either positiveor negative. The values below 1.87 in table 5 were scored as ‘negative’due to limit of detection of the assay.

TABLE 5 Probang rRT-PCR Individual Animal Listing and Back-TransformedLeast Squares Means per Treatment Group Day 38 Day 42 Day 49 Day 52Treatment Test Test Test Test Number Animal Result Result Result ResultT01 R14-84 4.29 4.72 <1.87 3.83 T01 R14-85 4.26 6.01 5.14 4.7 T01 R14-86<1.87 3.62 <1.87 <1.87 T01 R14-87 <1.87 <1.87 <1.87 <1.87 Group Mean1.999 3.130 1.432 1.992 T02 R14-72 <1.87 <1.87 <1.87 <1.87 T02 R14-73<1.87 <1.87 <1.87 <1.87 T02 R14-74 <1.87 <1.87 <1.87 <1.87 T02 R14-75<1.87 <1.87 <1.87 <1.87 Group Mean 0.935 0.935 0.935 0.935 T03 R14-764.98 4.68 <1.87 <1.87 T03 R14-77 5.52 3.43 <1.87 <1.87 T03 R14-78 <1.874.35 <1.87 5.3 T03 R14-79 <1.87 <1.87 <1.87 <1.87 Group Mean 2.214 2.8430.935 1.443 T04 R14-80 <1.87 <1.87 4.88 4.59 T04 R14-81 5.08 4.01 3.984.65 T04 R14-82 <1.87 4.47 6.12 4.32 T04 R14-83 <1.87 <1.87 <1.87 <1.87Group Mean 1.427 1.990 3.247 3.047 T05 R14-60 <1.87 <1.87 <1.87 <1.87T05 R14-61 <1.87 <1.87 <1.87 <1.87 T05 R14-62 4.75 <1.87 <1.87 <1.87 T05R14-63 <1.87 <1.87 <1.87 <1.87 Group Mean 1.404 0.935 0.935 0.935 T06R14-64 <1.87 <1.87 <1.87 <1.87 T06 R14-65 4.10 4.11 <1.87 3.39 T06R14-66 <1.87 <1.87 <1.87 <1.87 T06 R14-67 4.14 5.08 5.18 4.82 Group Mean1.963 2.067 1.434 1.944 T07 R14-68 <1.87 <1.87 <1.87 <1.87 T07 R14-69<1.87 <1.87 <1.87 <1.87 T07 R14-70 <1.87 <1.87 <1.87 <1.87 T07 R14-715.34 5.46 4.49 3.7 Group Mean 1.445 1.453 1.384 1.319

TABLE 6 Probang Sample Virus Isolation ? Individual Animal Listing Dayof Study Treatment Animal 38 42 49 52 T01 R14-84 Pos Pos Pos Pos R14-85Pos Pos Pos Pos R14-86 Neg Neg Neg Neg R14-87 Neg Neg Neg Neg T02 R14-72Neg Neg Neg Neg R14-73 Neg Neg Neg Neg R14-74 Neg Pos Neg Neg R14-75 NegNeg Neg Neg T03 R14-76 Pos Pos Neg Pos R14-77 Pos Pos Neg Neg R14-78 PosPos Pos Pos R14-79 Neg Neg Neg Neg T04 R14-80 Pos Neg Pos Pos R14-81 PosPos Pos Pos R14-82 Pos Pos Pos Pos R14-83 Pos Pos Pos Pos T05 R14-60 NegNeg Neg Neg R14-61 Neg Neg Neg Neg R14-62 Neg Neg Neg Neg R14-63 Neg NegNeg Neg T06 R14-64 Neg Neg Neg Neg R14-65 Pos Pos Pos Pos R14-66 Neg NegNeg Neg R14-67 Pos Pos Pos Pos T07 R14-68 Neg Neg Neg Neg R14-69 Neg NegNeg Neg R14-70 Neg Neg Neg Neg R14-71 Pos Pos Pos Pos

For Group 1 (saline control), three animals were positive at least oncefor FMDV by rRT-PCR and two animals were always positive for virusisolation.

In Group T02, no animal was ever found to be carrying FMDV by rRT-PCR,but one animal (R14-74) was found to be positive by virus isolationassay at a single time point only (Day 42: day 21 post-challenge) butnegative thereafter(Days 49:and 52,indicating the absence of persistentinfection. The other animals in T02 did not carry FMDV detectable eitherby rRT-PCR or by viral isolation assay at day 38 and beyond.

In group T03, one animal (R14-79) was fully protected from FMDVinfection, two animals demonstrated the presence of FMDV (either byrRT-PCR or by viral isolation assay) on three or four of the testingdays and one animal (R14-77) demonstrated FMDV presence by both tests onDays 38 and 42, but not thereafter.

In group T04, all four animals exhibited persistence of FMDV by one orboth tests through Day 52.

In Group T05, one animal (R14-62) demonstrated the presence of the virusonly on Day 38 by rRT-PCR but not by virus isolation and and virus wasnot detected by either test thereafter. FMDV was not detected either byrRT-PCR or by viral isolation assay at any time for the other threeanimals in group T05.

In Group T06, two animals were fully protected from persistence whilethe other two were either rRT-PCR or virus isolation positive at everytime point examined.

In group T07, three out of four animals were fully protected while oneanimal (R14-71) was positive for both rRT-PCR and virus isolation ateach time point.

Table 7 summarizes the results of persistence experiments. Animals wereconsidered as non-persistent if neitherrRT-PCR or viral isolation assaysdetected FMDV on both day 49 (28 days post-challenge) and day 52 (31 daypost-challenge).

TABLE 7 Frequency of Persistence and Non-Persistence TreatmentPersistent % Not Persistent % T01 (saline) 50 50 T02 (FMDV PEG ppt-8 μg)0 100 T03 (FMDV PEG ppt-2 μg) 50 50 T04 (FMDV PEG ppt-0.5 μg) 100 0 T05(FMDV Hollow fiber-8 μg) 0 100 T06 (FMDV Hollow fiber-2 μg) 50 50 T07(FMDV Hollow fiber-0.5 μg) 25 75

Only two of the eight animals administered 8 μg of antigen (Groups T02and T05) ever exhibited the presence of virus and that was for one dayonly (one each on Days 37 and 42). The other animals in these groupswere fully protected Considering that the virus presence was notdetected on both 28 and 31 days after infection, none of the animalsadministered 8 μg of antigen was considered to be persistently infected.Five out of eight animals administered 2 μg of antigen (Groups T03 andT06) exhibited viral persistence. Four out of eight animals eightanimals administered 0.5 μg of antigen (Groups T04 and T07) exhibitedpersistence.

Taken together, these results indicate protection from FMDV viralpersistence in animals administered 8 μg antigen, and it also appearsthat the purification of the antigen by hollow fiber filtration isadvantageous compared to PEG precipitation. The main difference betweenthe two antigen formulations is the presence of non-structural proteinsin addition to structural ones in the hollow fiber filtrationformulation. Thus, without being bound by theory, it appears that thequality of the immune response elicited by vaccines where the antigencontains both structural and non-structural proteins, and particularlyprotein 3D, are more effective in preventive FMDV persistence, asillustrated in Table 8.

TABLE 8 Effect of antigen preparation method on immune response.Treatment Persistent % Not Persistent % T01 (saline) 50% (2 out of 4)50% (2 out of 4) Prep A (hollow fiber, groups 25% (3 out of 12) 75% (9out of 12) T05-T07 Combined) Prep B (PEG precipitation, 50% (6 out of12) 50% (6 out of 12) groups, T02-T04 Combined)

All publications cited in the specification, both patent publicationsand non-patent publications, are indicative of the level of skill ofthose skilled in the art to which this invention pertains. All thesepublications are herein fully incorporated by reference to the sameextent as if each individual publication were specifically andindividually indicated as being incorporated by reference.

Although the invention herein has been described with reference toparticular embodiments, it is to be understood that these embodimentsare merely illustrative of the principles and applications of thepresent invention. It is therefore to be understood that numerousmodifications may be made to the illustrative embodiments and that otherarrangements may be devised without departing from the spirit and scopeof the present invention as defined by the following claims.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A method of herd management, comprisingadministering to each member in said herd an immunogenic compositionwherein said immunogenic composition comprises: a) antigen componentcomprising between 6 and 20 μg of FMD (Foot-and-Mouth Disease) virus perdose; b) an emulsion containing an oil; c) 75-200 μg of a CpG-containingimmunostimulatory oligonucleotide per dose; d) 75-200 mg of apolycationic carrier per dose, and wherein further, upon suspectedcontact with FMD infection, the vaccinated members of said herd are notslaughtered.
 2. A method of herd management, comprising administering toeach member in said herd an immunogenic composition wherein saidimmunogenic composition comprises: a) antigen component comprisingbetween 6 and 20 μg of FMD (Foot-and-Mouth Disease) virus per dose; b)an emulsion containing an oil; c) 75-200 μg of a CpG-containingimmunostimulatory oligonucleotide per dose; d) 75-200 mg of apolycationic carrier per dose, and wherein further, upon suspectedcontact with FMD infection, the vaccinated members of said herd arequarantined for 0-30 days.
 3. A method of herd management, comprisingadministering to each member in said herd an immunogenic compositionwherein said immunogenic composition comprises: a) antigen componentcomprising between 6 and 20 μg of FMD (Foot-and-Mouth Disease) virus perdose; b) an emulsion containing an oil; c) 75-200 μg of a CpG-containingimmunostimulatory oligonucleotide per dose; d) 75-200 mg of apolycationic carrier per dose, and wherein further, upon suspectedcontact with FMD infection, the vaccinated members of said herd aremoved beyond the infected premises.
 4. The method according to claim 1,wherein the vaccinated members of the herd are not slaughtered and arequarantined for 0-30 days.
 5. The method of any one of claims 1-4,wherein said immunogenic composition comprises 6-18 μg of FMD(Foot-and-Mouth Disease) virus per dose.
 6. The method of any one ofclaims 1-4, wherein said immunogenic composition comprises 6-12 μg ofFMD (Foot-and-Mouth Disease) virus per dose.
 7. The method of any one ofclaims 1-4, wherein said immunogenic composition comprises 8-12 μg ofFMD (Foot-and-Mouth Disease) virus per dose.
 8. The method according toany one of claims 1-4, wherein the polycationic polymer isdiethylaminoethyl (DEAE) Dextran.
 9. The method of claim 8, wherein saidimmunogenic composition comprises 6-18 μg of FMD (Foot-and-MouthDisease) virus per dose.
 10. The method of claim 8, wherein saidimmunogenic composition comprises 6-12 μg of FMD (Foot-and-MouthDisease) virus per dose.
 11. The method of claim 8, wherein saidimmunogenic composition comprises 8-12 μg of FMD (Foot-and-MouthDisease) virus per dose.
 12. The method according to claim 8, whereinthe immunostimulatory oligonucleotide comprises CpG.
 13. The methodaccording to claim 12, wherein the immunostimulatory oligonucleotidecomprises at least 15 contiguous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO:
 8. 14. Themethod according to any one of claims 1-4, wherein the oil is a lightmineral oil.
 15. The method according to claim 14, wherein oily phasecomprises 50.01%-55% v/v of the immunogenic composition.
 16. The methodaccording to claim 14, wherein the polycationic polymer isdiethylaminoethyl (DEAE) Dextran.
 17. The method according to claim 16,wherein the immunostimulatory oligonucleotide comprises CpG.
 18. Themethod according to claim 17, wherein the immunostimulatoryoligonucleotide comprises at least 15 contiguous nucleotides of SEQ IDNO:
 8. 19. The method of claim 17, wherein said immunogenic compositioncomprises 6-18 μg of FMD (Foot-and-Mouth Disease) virus per dose. 20.The method of claim 17, wherein said immunogenic composition comprises6-12 μg of FMD (Foot-and-Mouth Disease) virus per dose.
 21. The methodof claim 17, wherein said immunogenic composition comprises 8-12 μg ofFMD (Foot-and-Mouth Disease) virus per dose.